LOWELL -- When dozens of youths from the Vote 17 movement descended upon the Statehouse, lobbying lawmakers to support legislation to lower the voting age to 17 in citywide elections, Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee was right there with them.

"When they got an answer that may not have been the exact response they were looking for, he would very energetically say, 'Let's go to the next room,'" United Teen Equality Center Executive Director Gregg Croteau said.

Community and neighborhood leaders agree that Lavallee going to the Statehouse is symbolic of the type of leader he has been in his more than six years as police superintendent.

"He modeled, in my view, the kind of police behavior where he was able to develop relationships with lots of young leaders, and he did that in a very intentional, purposeful and aggressive way," said Michael Gallagher, a prominent downtown lawyer and member of UTEC's board of directors.

"He was genuine in his interest in reaching out," he added.

Under Lavallee, the Police Department has continued to bridge partnerships with the different neighborhood groups throughout the city, with sector captains attending monthly meetings.

Deb Forgione, chairwoman of the Pawtucketville Citizens Council, said the sector captains began attending neighborhood meetings before Lavallee became chief, but there has been a change in recent years.

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"I think that the mindset was, they were glad to do it," Forgione said. "Before, I wasn't always sure they were glad. They made us feel that they wanted to be there. We felt that they were part of the group."

Neighborhood leaders say Lavallee never shied away from meetings where residents were often asking tough questions.

"He wasn't going to come there without hearing our problems," Forgione said. "He was always willing to listen and be respectful."

Forgione said Lavallee made neighborhood members feel like they were part of solutions.

One example is the "Lights on, Crime off" initiative, which was the neighborhood's response several years ago to increases in petty crime.

"He gave us wings to help our neighborhood help ourselves," Forgione said.

Neighborhood leaders also talk about Lavallee's open-door approach.

"We want our chief to be visible," said Ann Marie Page, Centralville Neighborhood Action Group president. "We want him to be on hand. If we have a problem, we want to be able to go right in and say, 'Here's our problem.' "

Lavallee said he, and the entire Police Department, recognized that partnerships with nonprofit agencies, the business community, neighborhood groups and youth organizations were key to successfully addressing issues in the city.

"Every police officer puts effort into those relationships and holds it to a high esteem," he said.

He said every other Thursday morning, the department holds staff meetings at different locations around the city. One meeting at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association revealed that many Cambodians do not keep up with mainstream media, Lavallee said. That led to Lavallee appearing on Khmer-speaking programs on Lowell Telecommunications Corp., where Cambodian residents can call-in and ask the chief questions.

Lavallee said he developed an intimate relationship with UTEC because he wanted to address gang violence when he took over the department. He said the strategy had to be addressing the problem from an enforcement standpoint, as well as the preventative side.

Gallagher said Lavallee will be remembered for his dedication to the city's youth. The two worked together on creating opportunities for young people after school and over summer break.

"He recognized that part of dealing with crime was to prevent it in the first place," Gallagher said. "If you can provide those kinds of opportunities for young people in the vast majority of instances, they will take advantage of those opportunities."

That continued with his collaboration with UTEC. Late last year, Lavallee was named UTEC's "Adult Ally of the Year."

"One of his lasting marks will be setting a standard for the way a police department can positively engage with youth-run organizations, a recognition that if we're going to deal with crime, you need to have a multifaceted approach, and you need to make sure all your offices buy into that approach," Gallagher said. "It's a testament to his leadership over a number of years."

"He has been a totally approachable and incredibly responsive police chief," UTEC's Croteau said. "The ability to just pick up the phone and just give him a ring is a huge, huge asset to have in the community."

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